Embarcadero funding confirmed

The North Embarcadero Visionary Plan calls for upgrading San Diego's "front porch" at the western waterfront. The port district and city have approved $29.6 million for the first phase.

/ San Diego Unified Port District

The North Embarcadero Visionary Plan calls for upgrading San Diego's "front porch" at the western waterfront. The port district and city have approved $29.6 million for the first phase.

The North Embarcadero Visionary Plan calls for upgrading San Diego's "front porch" at the western waterfront. The port district and city have approved $29.6 million for the first phase. (/ San Diego Unified Port District)

The San Diego City Council took final action Monday on the $29.6 million first phase of western waterfront improvements, although the long-awaited start of construction still awaits California Coastal Commission approval.

The council, which acted prior to approving a long list of redevelopment projects extending to 2050, followed similar action last week by the San Diego Unified Port District.

The money would beautify Broadway west of Pacific Highway and Harbor Drive between B Street and Navy piers and include a new 150-foot setback back or plaza as part of the planned Lane Field hotel complex at the northeast corner of Broadway and Harbor Drive.

"This is an extraordinarily important project for the entire city of San Diego," said Councilman Kevin Faulconer. "The waterfront belongs to all of us, no matter where you live."

Councilman Carl DeMaio, who has been critical of some redevelopment projects, endorsed the project, which is to be paid from downtown property taxes, half of which the port promises to repay later.

"The waterfront is San Diego's front porch," DeMaio said. "I think this is as important an economic investment as the convention center, because it will not only provide a beautiful promenade for San Diegans to enjoy but it will be our signature destination for folks from across the country. This is the first step, the first investment that is long overdue."

However, Councilman David Alvarez, who voted no, said he did not consider the current state of the Embarcadero blighted and therefore eligible for redevelopment funds.

"My wife and I go to this part of town for a lot of jogs," he said. "It looks OK. It's not the newest facility, but it's pretty nice. It's on the bayfront. How can you explain that is eliminating blight?"

The project still faces scrutiny by the coastal commission, which is due to hear an appeal at its meeting in Santa Barbara next month. The commission rejected the project on a tie vote last year.

Meanwhile, a new effort is beginning March 16 with a six-month series of public workshops and meetings by the port's 15-member citizens advisory committee to explore how the rest of the Embarcadero plan -- once estimated to cost $225 million -- should be implemented.

Scott Andrews, who is a member of the committee, spoke against the funding for the first phase. He is one of the appellants to the coastal commission on the project.

"This is a violation of the coastal act," he said, because he believes the first phase does not comply with the port master plan of 2001 that called for more park space.

Gary Bosse, project manager for the Centre City Development Corp. that is working with the port on the project, said if the commission approves, the improvements could be completed by the summer of 2013.

Jim Hirsch, the port planner working on the future phases of the Embarcadero, said the citizens committee will evaluate the series of plans developed for the waterfront since 1998 and come up with alternatives to be analyzed in an environmental impact report over the next 18 months.

Ultimately, a new port master plan would also go to the coastal commission and set the stage for the size and scope of future phases.